Making Your New Jersey Home Pest-Proof For The Winter

​How to keep pests away in the winter

We know it seems too early to think about winter, but Tuesday's cold morning temperatures were a good reminder that, whether we like it or not, winter is coming and will bring higher heating bills, colder weather, and snow/ice storms. This is also the time of year when bad weather sends mice and rats inside to find a warm place to stay and food to eat. Rats and mice may love your home because it's a warm place where they can hide from the cold and get food from your kitchen. And you don't just have to worry about rats and mice. Once bugs figure out that the cold weather is here to stay, they will start coming inside. We've put together a list of tips that New Jersey homeowners can use to keep mice, rats, and other pests out of their homes this winter.
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Don't worry, you don't have to be Bob Villa to use these methods to keep bugs and rodents away.

Seal your home so mice and rats can't get in.

Rats stink bugs, spiders, and other bugs may be able to get into your home through small holes and cracks on the outside. Stop the invasion by sealing off possible entry points along the foundation and other outside surfaces with a mixture of silicone-based caulk and steel wool.

Limit time on screens

No, we don't mean that limiting the time you spend on your phone and other devices will keep pests away. However, there are personal benefits to spending less time on devices, but that's a whole other topic that we don't know much about. Rather, fixing the screens on your doors and windows will make your fortress more like a fortress that keeps rodents and bugs out.

Vents, chimneys, and other openings that should be there should not be forgotten.

There have to be some openings that go from the inside to the outside. Your laundry wouldn't be able to vent right without vents. Without a chimney, smoke or worse could get into your house. Instead of closing off these vents, closing down chimneys, or sealing up other openings, we suggest installing materials that let them do their job but keep pests from getting in through those ways. You can put mesh or other things that rodent teeth can't get through over vents and other holes. We also recommend putting chimney caps on.

Get rid of the problem with water.

Insects and other pests can't live without water. When basements, crawl spaces, and even attics are damp or have a lot of water buildup, bugs and rodents like to live there. In order to keep rodents and insects out, you must fix any leaky pipes, run dehumidifiers, and make sure that places with a lot of humidity and moisture have good airflow and are dry.

Remember to clean out your gutters.

Over time, leaves and other things get stuck in gutters. Even though it might not seem like much, it is. Pests love to live in gutters that are full of leaves and other debris. This fall, clean your gutters (watch for falling leaves) and ensure that rainwater can easily flow through the channel and that the downspouts point away from the foundation.

Demolish the bridges

The bridges we're talking about are the tree branches that reach across the space between the tree trunk and the house to land on the roof. Pests won't use branches to get to your home if you trim them so they are at least 7 to 10 feet away from the roofline. In the same way, we suggest keeping shrubs from touching the outside of the house and putting crushed rock around the whole thing.

Store your firewood away from your house. 

We know it's convenient to keep your firewood close by on cold winter days, but you should resist the urge. In fact, we don't recommend keeping firewood on, in, or near your house because it could be full of carpenter ants and other pests that could damage your home. The best place to store firewood is at least 20 feet away from the building and up on a raised platform.

Keep your home clean.

The best way to keep common areas clean and less appealing to mice, roaches, and other pests are to clean and disinfect countertops, sinks, and appliances. We also suggest cleaning the cabinets, vacuuming and mopping the floors, and taking out the trash often. If you let dishes pile up in the sink or leave crumbs on the floor or counters, there will be more people living in your home than just your family.

Trust the experts in pest control for your home
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If you're great at fall cleaning and your house is always spotless, but you're still seeing pests inside and/or outside, call Jersey City Exterminator to set up a FREE home evaluation. Our team has the tools and knowledge to keep pests out of your home during the winter and all year long. ​

The Home Protection Program 

Service takes care of your current pest or rodent problem and protects the inside and outside of your home all year, with three visits during the different seasons. The program covers your whole property, including attics, mailboxes, playsets, sheds, and fences.

​Ants (except carpenter, pharaoh, and acrobatic ants), bees, boxelder bugs, carpenter bees, carpet beetles, centipedes, cicada killers, clover mites, crickets, digger bees, earwigs, fabric & paper pests, fleas (inside only), ground beetles, hornets, mice, pillbugs, milli.